Nice People Issue 2

Issue 2

FREE!

featuring... Hattie Clark

TIGHT LINes Niknak Rollin’ with the girls owt DULAHLI Têtes de Pois Skwid Ink Garde Dog + more!

You’re well nice.

Welcome to Issue Two. A few things got in the way of us making this month’s issue; yet, despite laptops breaking, cars going missing and bank balances dwindling, we produced the copy of Nice People that you’re reading now. That’s all due to the support and kind words of those who picked up the first issue. Seeing people read it, love it and share it filled us with the biggest amount of love, and inspired us to carry on no matter what silly things life threw at us.

We’re excited to have collaborated with the Tight Lines gang to help them bring out their first compilation record, TLC001. They’re some of the nicest, most hardworking people we know and you can read all about them on pages 18-23. Big special shout out to our very good friend Julia Pomeroy for illustrating the bands with such care, precision and creativity. We don’t know how you do it.

Our beautiful cover was designed by the lovely Hattie Clark, who you can get to know on pages 10-13. We couldn’t stop smiling when she sent us her first draft, and we’re so proud to have her illustrations on the front of our magazine.

As always, a big big thank you to everyone who has contributed to this issue: Thank you Safi Bugel, for introducing us to Rollin’ With The Girls and making us want to take up skateboarding. Thank you Shauna Stapleton, for enlightening us on how great our neighbours in Nottingham are. Thank you Tom Baran, for reminding us how great Pulled Apart By Horses’ seminal album is. Thank you Naomi Baguley, for writing about our new favourite restaurant OWT. Thank you Jack Ramage, for spotlighting Rainbow Junktion and the amazing work they do to tackle food waste.

Thank you Harrie Kelly, for having a laugh with Skwid Ink. Thank you Alex D-t and Millie Farrant, for your truly beautiful poem and illustration. And thank you Ozzy Algar, for reminding us to wear at least Factor 15, even when its overcast.

Enjoy baby no.2.

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Lots of love, Meg and Tom (Co-Founders)

Nice People Magazine December 2018

04 | Nice Gigs in Leeds 05 | Editor’s Albums of the Year 06 | NikNak 08 | Rollin’ With The Girls 10 | Hattie Clark 14 | What Are the Neighbours Up To: A Guide to Nottingham 18 | Tight Lines: DULAHLI | Têtes de Pois | Skwid Ink | Garde Dog 24 | Rainbow Junktion: Tackling Food Waste 26 | OWT 27 | 10 Years of Pulled Apart By Horses 28 | The Sun God by Ozzy Algar 29 | Lovers of the Gutters by Alex D-t, Illustrated by Millie Farrant

Front cover design: Hattie Clark (Instagram: @hattieclark_) Logo design: Julia Pomeroy (juliapomeroy98@gmail.com) Printed by Mortons Print Designed and edited by Meg Firth | Curated by Tom Nixon

FIND US Facebook: Nice People Magazine Instagram: @allthesenicepeople Email: allthesenicepeople@gmail.com

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Nice gigs in Leeds December and January (+ a bit of February) Laid Back

What’s your flavour?

Something New

Monday 3rd December The Headhunters For fans of: Old School jazz fusion Belgrave Music Hall, £21 (Dice) Tuesday 4th December Mabel For fans of: RAYE, M.O, Zak Abel Leeds University Union, 17.60 (Ticketmaster) Tuesday 4th December Self Esteem For fans of: Slow Club, Laura Marling…

Headrow House, £8.40 (Dice) Wednesday 5th December School Night x Dork Presents: Lucia, Deco & Ørmstons For fans of: Anteros, Baby Strange, King Nun… Oporto, £5 (Eventbrite) Thursday 6th December Zeal & Ardor For fans of: blues and soul mixed with heavier sounds Church, £15.40 (Dice) Friday 7th December Come Play With Me Presents: Team Picture + Cruel World & Seeing Hands For fans of: The Golden Age of TV, Dead Naked Hippies, Vulgarians…

Hyde Park Book Club, £4 (MusicGlue) Saturday 8th December Drahla For fans of: Vulgarians, Idles, Shame, Girl Band…

Wharf Chambers, £5.81 (Eventbrite)

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Hot and Sweaty

Vibey

Sunday 9th December Uncle Buzzard EP Release Party + Van Houten & Inside Jokes For fans of: woozy, atmospheric ‘daddy jazz’ Hyde Park Book Club, £5 OTD Sunday 9th December Daddy Issues + PAWS For fans of: fuzzy riffs and feeling introspective in a moshpit Brudenell Social Club, £9.90 (Dice) Monday 10th December Heir Presents: Blueprint #5 ft. Valeras + more For fans of: nice people doing nice things Hyde Park Book Club, £4 (MusicGlue) Monday 10th December DMAs For fans of: The Gallagher brothers O2 Academy, £16 (SeeTickets) Wednesday 12th December Tess Parks For fans of: Hypnotic moody rock Headrow House, £10.50 (Dice) Saturday 15th December Indie Banquet XII: Warmduscher, Hotel Lux, Lumer, Wilted Polevaulter For fans of: good times and vegan fried chicken Wharf Chambers, £9 (Crash, Jumbo, Dice) Saturday 15th December Honey Dijon For fans of: dancing ‘til late Headrow House, £15.25 (Dice)

Nice People Magazine December 2018

Sunday 16th December MGMT For fans of: gothic synth pop O2 Academy, £26.50 (Ticketmaster)

Thursday 24th January Matt Corby For fans of: Ben Howard, Bon Iver...

Church, £16 (SeeTickets)

Friday 21st December Misty’s Big Adventure For fans of: jazz lounge psychedelia Headrow House, £11 (SeeTickets)

Friday 25th January Frank For fans of: Bjorn Again, Nadia Sirota...

Hyde Park Book Club, £5 OTD

Friday 28th December Fiddlehead For fans of: subtle headbanging Temple Of Boom, £10 (SeeTickets)

Saturday 26th January Brooders Present: Rifffest ft. False Advertising, Hands Off Gretal + more For fans of: Bloody Knees, The Blinders…

Lending Room, £5/£7 (MusicGlue) £10 OTD

Friday 18th January The Belgrave House Band: Erykah Badu’s Baduizm For fans of: Erykah Badu and the Belgrave babes Belgrave Music Hall, £7.35 (Dice)

Saturday 2nd February Black Midi For fans of: Sonic Youth, The Fall, Shame...

Brudenell Social Club, £7 (SeeTickets)

Editor’s albums of the year From Father John Misty to Kanye, 2018 saw the release of some amazing seminal albums.

It was hard to pick just two, but here are Meg and Tom’s top two picks:

Meg

Isolation Kali Uchis

Tom

Czarface meets Metal Face Czarface, MF Doom

It’s hard to feel down when this album is on rotation. Kali Uchis’ debut is simply addictive, as it melts away any sense of worry with its breezy Brazilian-jazz beats and seamless features (from Jorja Smith and Tyler, The Creator especially.)

Nothing but classic DOOM bars, excellent skits and impeccable production, this album lives up to the reputation of both artists.

A fusion of two of the greatest rappers of our time, this album is start to finish nothing but banging beats and bars.

Stranger Today Our Girl

Freedom’s Goblin Ty Segal

Released in August, Our Girl’s debut album quickly settled at the top of my favourite albums of 2018 and it has been shamelessly on repeat since. Navigating love and friendship with vulnerability and brilliant guitar hooks, it showcases Our Girl’s immense songwriting and innovation.

A gorgeous introduction to Ty Segal’s endless supply of music.

From the thick fuzz of ‘Every 1’s a Winner’ to the beautiful chord progressions and 60’s vocal lines of ‘My Lady’s on Fire’, this album perfectly demonstrates Segal’s versatility as a songwriter.

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NIK NAK Meg sat down with Nicole Raymond (NikNak) at Hyde Park Book Club to chat about collectives in Leeds, the art of saying no and her journey to becoming an established DJ and turntablist.

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henever NikNak steps up to the decks you know you’re in for a treat. Her sets, which weave through a wide array of genres with effortless fluidity, are peppered with intuitive scratching and mixing techniques that flaunt NikNak’s wealth of knowledge and experience. Seconds into her set and you’ll be making that face you make when an absolute tune is on, stuck between the magnetic pull of NikNak and the urge to run and tell all your mates about your new favourite Leeds DJ. Since moving here from Leicester two years ago for her Masters, London-born NikNak has quickly become a staple in the Leeds DJ scene. From supporting the likes of Grandmaster Flash, Princess Nokia and Cakes Da Killa, to working with important local initiatives such as Slut Drop, Girls That Gig and MAP, NikNak has certainly established herself as a resident of Leeds.

This experience has culminated in NikNak hosting the new BBC Radio Leeds Backstage show on Wednesday evenings.

Asking her about it as we sat down for an early evening coffee at Hyde Park Book Club, NikNak’s smile was irrepressible: “It’s amazing,” she beams. “I can’t even say it properly, I stutter when I even try and say ‘the BBC’. You grow up with them, and I never thought of potentially working there. I was at my day

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job when I got the email saying I’d got it and I started crying, I just had to call my mum.”

It’s certainly a deserved slot for NikNak, who has been mixing, scratching, producing and DJing since she was 13. Her career started with the most important meal of the day - breakfast: “There was this promotional thing in cereal boxes where you could get DJ and music production software, and we got a bunch of them. Me, my aunt and my sister would make a ton of these really weird garage-y tunes, and then make our own radio shows at the kitchen table.”

Moving on from Kellogg’s promotions, NikNak honed her production and mixing skills throughout her school days, opening the floodgates for a future of turntablism and mastering the decks as an instrument. “It was only until I got to Uni when I got into DJing,” reflects NikNak. “I wasn’t happy with the beats I was making anymore, so I just thought I’d like to have a go.

I was working at this bar and I had some friends - Dan and Nadia - who DJed there, so asked to do a set with them. I didn’t really know what I was doing but I was having fun, and Dan asked me to be part of the collective. It was a collective called Bug Out and they all scratched and could do amazing stuff on turntables, and I wanted to do that.”

Nice People Magazine October 2018

Now, you can find NikNak scratching wonders behind the decks or teaching others how to do it themselves.

Working with initiatives such as the charity MAP - who provide creative training, qualifications, guidance and a nurturing space for young people who are struggling in mainstream education - and DJ School, NikNak uses her skills and knowledge to teach and inspire others: “I volunteered with MAP pretty much when I first got here.

They’re really sound people and it was really cool to be involved with them,” says NikNak. “The government are trying to say that music lessons and the arts aren’t needed, and that’s total bullshit, because if you’re not able to express yourself in some sort of creative way and don’t have the opportunity to learn the basics, then you’re being stifled. To be able to help out in some way and nudge people towards whatever direction they want to go in, then that’s incredibly helpful. Everyone is a sponge; it’s never too late, and it’s very important to just give back and show people it can be done. Plus, you don’t see - or at least I didn’t see - many women of colour teaching these things, so for me to be able to be like ‘I’ve done it, there’s nothing stopping you’ is really important for me.”

Leeds is a great place if you’re someone who wants to learn. The DIY scene is refreshingly accessible and welcoming; after sending an Instagram message to the right people, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a community of like-minded people who are learning from each other. DJ Collectives like Slut Drop and Equaliser are tackling the homogeneity of the DJ scene, creating a more inclusive space for aspiring female, trans and non-binary DJs and proving there’s no shortage of women who can master the turntables. “There is a big need for that kind of thing, and luckily there are groups of diverse and awesome people encouraging you to come through and learn,” explains NikNak. “It’s very crucial to have that because I didn’t have that growing up. For people to be there to help you figure it out in a safe environment where that anxious gremlin won’t creep up on you is good. There’s no need to be anxious about it, and that stigma is slowly going because of collectives like Slut Drop and Equaliser.”

“When you step up to that equipment, you are showing people through the tunes you play who you are. It’s just bricks and mortar; you can build whatever you want from it. There’s becoming more of a relaxed approach to just playing music live. Overall, it’s easing, but there’s still work to be done.”

As we chat, I find myself inspired by NikNak’s capacity for growth and the way she takes time to care for herself. When you’ve got a lot going on, it’s hard to take a day for yourself without feeling bad, but NikNak has learnt by error and highly recommends curling up in

Image: House of Verse

your duvet and binge-watching Netflix: “It’s taken me a while for me to get to a point where I can say No. I’m very thankful for that. As crazy millennials, we think we have to be doing everything all at once in order to succeed. If you’re not out there hustling you’re seen as lazy and not on top of it, but you can be on top of it and also take a day to binge-watch Cowboy Bepop in bed. You’re a human being.”

NikNak’s outlook on life is refreshing, especially in a world where we are constantly pressured to achieve young. It’s important to remember that we can only try our best and that we’re bound to make mistakes - mistakes that other people will barely notice. “I’m happy knowing that every set that I do - whether it’s 6 hours of half an hour - I play the best that I can,” says NikNak. “I’m better than I was last year, and I’m more confident with my scratching now. Every set I play I’m tired afterwards, so that means I’ve done the best I can. Whether there’s mistakes in there or not, which there will be because I’m human.”

Next time you see NikNak on a lineup, make sure you get down for a boogie with her. The joy and intuition that comes through in her sets is something special, and her eclectic mixes will melt away any Winter blues.

Meg Firth

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Rollin’

Girls

In March earlier this year, Jess Melia, then 27 years old, began skateboarding. Fast-forward a few months, and she has started a skate collective in Leeds, aiming to support, showcase and inspire local female skaters like herself.

R

ollin’ With The Girls was founded in response to the intimidation Jess, and undoubtedly many others, felt when entering a crowded, profoundly male-dominated, skate park. However, this discontent has been channelled into something exceedingly positive and inclusive: “RWTG exists not as a clique”, Jess assures, “but as a platform”, which welcomes all ages and abilities, whether you’re “beginning or shredding”.

Though skateboarding and its coverage have always been densely masculine, it is by no means an exclusively male realm. “The UK female skate scene is booming!”, exclaims Jess, who points to the rise of national collectives like Girl Skate UK, who have been supporting and showcasing girl skaters for years. A similar community can be found in Leeds, with participation too extensive for Jess to articulate. It’s one that continues to grow; the influx of attendees at the bi-weekly girls-only night at The Works Skate Park is a testament to this. So why is the scene still so male-oriented?

“I blame the patriarchy!”, Jess remarks. Drawing similarities to the DJing and coding scene, Jess explains that skate-boarding is predominantly male because of the absence of female representation and encouragement. Though the solution is a work in progress, Jess refuses to let slow change dampen her spirits.

“Things are changing!”, Jess observes, and RWTG is certainly helping to smash any pre-existing boundaries: “to really spit in the face of it you have to be there, you have to just do it and make your presence known”.

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The coming-of-age film Skate Kitchen is a recent attempt to compensate for the lack of representation, documenting the experience of a young female skate community in New York. Yet, its veracity is questionable; Jess urges it to be taken with a pinch of salt.

Despite certain relatable aspects, Jess declares that the male vs. female dichotomy in the film is misguided. To her, this misrepresentation is dangerous: “we should be trying to integrate, not segregate”. Besides the odd dose of “mansplaining”, Jess believes that the Leeds scene is more inviting than it may seem: “everyone in Leeds is stoked to see people picking up skating and progressing!”.

RWTG certainly adheres to this sense of openness: Jess stresses that it is not a “crew” per se, but something that is available to anyone. This community aspect can be seen in the very fabric of RWTG: whilst Jess runs the social media, other skaters, like Kayleigh Smyth and Minnie Mearns, provide the graphics and animations, not to mention the wealth of others involved. The community is charmingly diverse, with skaters as young as 11-year-old Kitty practising alongside older skaters, like Julie, who skates with her daughter Georgia. “There’s nothing better than watching a pal get a new trick”, Jess gushes, “it reminds you that if they can do it, you can do it”.

Social media has certainly influenced RWTG; in fact, Jess cites it as the reason why the collective exists.

Hashtags, like #girlskate, allow people like Jess to track skaters’ progress and, ultimately, see what can be achieved.

Nice People Magazine December 2018

It’s this opportunity that RWTG grabs: “I kind of make it my duty to hunt down girls in Leeds when I see them in person and pester them for their skate clips for the page”, she laughs; it doesn’t matter whether they’re “learning to push around on their board, or learning to kickturn”. The response so far has been remarkably positive, with engagement from girls across the country. However, RWTG also provides support on a more personal level: when its dry they can be found at Hyde Park, Micklefield or Thomes skate parks. Alternatively, the girls regularly attend the alternate Fridays at The Works, which welcomes scooters and BMXs too. An upcoming t-shirt line, in collaboration with local artist Bobbi Rae, hopes to raise the required funds for professional coaches and for these female-focused sessions to continue.

For those who are interested in skating but too worried, Jess suggests just doing it. RWTG is here to help, from providing boards at The Works sessions to offering advice. For those looking for their own equipment, Jess suggests consulting local skate shops, like Welcome, for advice about deck sizes (she skates an 8.25) and the best trucks, wheels, bearings and bolts within a specific price range.

Jess’ enthusiasm for skating is strikingly clear: “the main draw of skate culture is the freedom; you don’t have to like a particular genre of music or dress a certain way, and that translates to the actual skating too. You don’t have to skate a certain way, you can literally do anything you want”. In this sense, skating is not just a sport, but a means of expression, from the customisation of your board to the individual’s style

of skating. But more importantly, it is a chance to challenge oneself—something that Jess values in an age so accustomed to the instant gratification of Google, Deliveroo and Tinder. “It’s definitely not easy, and you’ll probably fall a lot, but if you want to really feel proud of yourself then skating is definitely something for you!”. Jess’ personal experience seems to embody the fulfilling nature of skateboarding: “it’s almost humbling not to be able to land a track first try. I have to put actual effort in, and I have to not be discouraged it if takes me days, weeks or even months to get a trick”. To her, skateboarding is a reminder that things are challenging, but “that’s ok I guess!”.

Safi Bugel

© Rollin’

With The Girls

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Hattie Clark is the wonderful artist behind this issue’s front cover. We sat down with her to discuss life as a freelance artist, the inspiration behind her cheery characters, and all about a certain duck having an identity crisis.

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t’s hard to be sad when you look at Hattie Clark’s playful illustrations. Her carefree characters radiate an infectious positivity and innocence, instantly melting away any pessimistic Monday morning thoughts. Refreshingly optimistic, Hattie’s illustrations inspire you to not take life so seriously.

Hattie herself radiates a similar warmth. Sitting down with her for an early evening coffee at Hyde Park Book Club, her positive energy made me instantly happier. From ducks sporting oversized accessories to people without their kit on, Hattie’s illustrations capture the silliness of life and it’s clear that she has fun with the work she makes.

From their big ears to their wobbly bits, it’s hard not to smile when you see Hattie’s wonderfully carefree characters. A personal favourite is ‘Wild Thing’, a lady running starkers through a garden.

The inspiration came to Hattie after reading about National Naked Gardening Day in a local newspaper: “It’s in the first week of May! It’s basically a day where people spend time in the garden naked. I did a couple of illustrations from that and I just kept going with them and exploring different people within them. They’ve been quite popular so I just developed a bit of a range of them.”

Another favourite recurring character is Hattie’s duck, who may or may not be having an identity crisis: “With the ducks, everyone thinks they’re seagulls,” explains Hattie. “I imagined him as a duck so I thought I might do a little a little book or a zine about a duck that everyone thinks is a seagull, and he doesn’t know what he is anymore.“

This blossomed from her love of drawing when she was little; “I know everyone always says it, but I was always drawing as a kid,” laughs Hattie. “I blame a lot of it on Art Attack. I used to watch it all the time. My Granny had a massive box of pens so that would be what I’d play with. I was forever drawing.”

Hattie pursued this childhood love for drawing by going on to study at Leeds Arts University and Bath School of Art & Design. “I always said that I wanted to be an artist,” reflects Hattie. “I don’t think I knew what an illustrator was, but I knew I wanted to be some sort of artist. Even when I was doing my foundation year I didn’t know I wanted to do illustration, but when I started drawing with ink my style carried on from that.”

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Nice People Magazine December 2018

All images used by kind permission of the artist Š Hattie Clark (@hattieclark_)

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What’s nice about chatting to Hattie is how she just has fun with her work. When you truly love what you do, your work becomes your craft, and Hattie’s craft is truly wonderful. Anything she puts her heart into becomes something that anyone would want to proudly have on their wall or upon their shelf. It’s exciting to think about what forms of art she’s going to experiment with in the future; “I did a ceramics course at Leeds, and that’s something I’d like to dabble more in,” ponders Hattie.” I’ve made a duck before! It’s really naff but I like how rubbish it is: I used a Nesquik tub to cut around the clay so he’s basically just a Nesquik tub with a head. He’s a bit sketchy, but he looks more like a duck than a seagull at least.”

Drawing her lovely people only came into fruition in her third year of studying in Bath; “I used to hate drawing people; I used to put it off so much. Now it’s all I seem to draw,” jokes Hattie. “I got this book off Amazon from like the ‘70s. It’s a really funny book of people just in different positions. It’s terrible but I always look at that for inspiration and develop characters from that. It’s just full of random stuff - there’s a priest sat down drinking a cup of tea, and there’s like 5 different angles of him for you to draw from. It’s become a little bible for me”

“I used to hate drawing people; I used to put it off so much. Now it’s all I seem to draw.”

You can find Hattie’s lovely people dancing within her flawless riso prints. We talk about the process of it: “It’s a really nice process. It’s like a screenprinting but with less faff,” Hattie explains. “It’s nice to layer all the colours, and - because you’re limited to the number of colours you can use - it makes you think in a different way. You can’t whack loads of colours on; you have to think of palettes of three or four colours. Riso is really popular at the moment too. It seems to be everywhere.”

On the day we met, Hattie had just returned from the Brighton Illustrators Fair, where spent the weekend in a room full of fellow artists; “It feels as if there are more and more illustrators coming up. The fairs and other events like that are the best way to meet people. I like doing them because always make friends with whoever I’m sat next to and everyone’s always so friendly.”

Being friendly is something that Hattie advises to anyone working freelance: “I know it sounds stupid, but if you’re really friendly it gets you so much further. And if you make friends with all the people you meet then you’ve got so many connections then. Always be nice to people.”

So, find Hattie at an art fair near you and discover her wonderful art. It’s impossible to feel blue when you see her wobbly ladies and sassy ducks. We certainly felt happy when we saw the illustration she did for this issue’s cover for the first time.

Meg Firth

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Nice People Magazine December 2018

If you would like to contact Hattie for bespoke illustrations, commissions, collabs and stockist enquiries, please say hi at hello@hattieclark.com You can also follow her and see her latest work on Instagram: @hattieclark_

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What Are the Neighbours Up To?

ham When asked about what first comes to mind when you think of Nottingham, you might say Robin Hood, Nottingham Forrest or even Jake Bugg; but there’s more to the city than anti-capitalists, shit football clubs and one hit wonders (seriously, can you name a Jake Bugg song that isn’t Lightning Bolt?). Whilst Nottingham might not be a big as Leeds, Sheffield or Manchester, there’s still plenty of activity bubbling up in its independent underground. In fact, the city’s size is what makes it so special; it’s less of a music scene and more of a music community, full of nice people where everybody knows everybody. Here’s what just some of the Nice People of Nottingham are up to at the moment.

record Forever Records

After the beloved Music Exchange closed its doors, what was manager Joey Bell to do except open another? That’s exactly what he did and Forever Records was born. Based in Cobden Chambers -a courtyard full of thriving independent businesses tucked away just off Pelham Street - Forever Records is the perfect successor. The shop specialises in new vinyl, especially those left of field, and local releases that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. There are also second-hand records that you actually want to buy (you won’t find any Wet Wet Wet here).

Rob’s Records

Rob is something of a legend of the Nottingham music scene, and one visit to his eponymously titled shop will tell you why. Home to over 200,000 records, CDs and tapes (the cataloguing of which, unsurprisingly, ended 24 years ago), you don’t go to Rob’s for a ‘quick flick’. A couple of hours searching endless piles and boxes, however, destines plenty of gems – it’s rumoured a rare Beatles single worth £450 was once unearthed. With customers spanning all ages and walks of life - from young music fans to seasoned record collectors - and a pricing system based on Rob’s own estimations, visiting Rob’s is certainly an experience.

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ven u e s The Chameleon

The Chameleon is a bastion of Nottingham’s local music scene and a stop off on many emerging band’s tours. Hidden away down the mysterious and slightly daunting Newcastle Chambers alleyway, anyone who dares to venture down is in for a treat. Having recently been refurbished, The Chameleon no longer the dive it once was; with neon signs, art prints and graffiti designed by local artists, as well as one of the best sound systems on the circuit and no raised stage, it’s the perfect place to get up close and personal with potential future festival headliners.

JT Soar

Once an fruit & veg warehouse, JT Soar is now a much loved DIY music/arts space, rehearsal room and recording studio just outside the city centre. Sticking firmly to its DIY ethos, there’s no bar (its BYOB), no raised stage and no venue manger. It’s no surprise that JT Soar is the venue of choice for many young and local bands looking to cut their teeth. Rolo Tomassi and Sheer Mag are just some of the acts whose early shows took place at the venue, whilst the likes Sleaford Mods and Wave Pictures have graced its recording studio. Friendly, cheap, inclusive and accessible, JT is less of a venue and more of a community.

Nice People Magazine December 2018

Kino Klubb

t h i n g s

Music aside, Nottingham is a great place for cinema and Kino Klubb is at the helm. The film club, who put on screenings every few months at the independent Broadway Cinema, specialise in the left field, showing avant-garde and cult classics such as The Ninth Configuration, The American Friend and The Elephant Man. Treated as more than just a movie, every film is introduced in order to give viewers an insight into its creation and roots. Each film even gets its own beautifully designed movie poster (which are often available to buy). If that wasn’t enough, a party also follows many screenings; past themes have included David Lynch (complete with cherry pie) and Italo Disco.

Dizzy Ink

There’s something of a risograph renaissance happening in the UK. The high-volume, low cost method of printing has bridged the gap between analogue and digital production, with minimal environmental impact (and it looks really nice too!) If you’ve ever wanted to master this art then look no further than Dizzy Ink. Running workshops on everything from riso Christmas cards, zines and even hip-hop album covers, there’s a course to suit every type of artist. Learn in a friendly, non-judgmental atmosphere regardless of ability.

do

Riso prints by Dizzy Ink

ban

Rattle

Sequence by Rattle

Think two drummers can’t make a band? Think again: Katherine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley are out to prove you wrong. A staple of Nottingham’s music scene, they stand out against other local acts due to their experimental, minimalist rhythms. You’re about to hear a whole lot more of the duo outside the city, as they have just released their debut album, Sequence, via Upset!

The Rhythm Records, and even bagged themselves a spot supporting Protomartyr and Preoccupations on their USA tour.

Slumb Party

Post-punk with added sax, Slumb Party are the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Their live shows are chaotic and unpredictable, usually ending with vocalist Joey Bell collapsing on the floor in a sweaty mess. Their debut album, Happy Now, was released over summer and accompanied by several UK tours, making them regulars at Leeds venues such as The Pack Horse and Wharf Chambers. Keep your clothes on and an eye out.

Happy Now by Slumb Party

Shauna Stapleton

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Nice People Magazine December 2018

Roberts (EVOL) @hughxroberts

Š Hugh

Chill Withers II 14.10.16

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Nice People Magazine December 2018

Tight Lines are an independent record label in Leeds; but above all, they are a group of friends who are exceptional at what they do. Representing DULAHLI, Têtes De Pois, Skwid Ink and Garde Dog, and hosting the tightest nights in Leeds, Tight Lines are certainly ones to have close to your hearts and even closer to your ears.

For the uninitiated, Tight Lines was born in 2016 with a low-key gig in their garden shed in Hyde Park. Evolving into a regular night at the Assembly House Studios under the name Chill Withers, Tight Lines began to bring together Leeds’ music and art scene with nights of pure, unadulterated fun and brilliance. Alongside Chill Withers, the Tight Lines boys also host fortnightly jam sessions where everyone is welcome to get up play; with no pretence, no strict format and absolutely no rules, the jams perfectly showcase the phenomenal talent that Leeds is home to.

You can see Tight Lines in all their glory every June at their annual day festival Salèmango. The first was at Hyde Park Book Club in 2017 and was a day that felt like history in the making. Local artists, DJs and musicians descended upon Book Club and proceeded to create a day for Hyde Park hedonists to relish in. It was a pure celebration of what Leeds’ DIY scene has to offer and played testament to the capability and potential of the Tight Lines boys and their friends.

Excitingly, it’s only the beginning for the LCoM graduates who run Tight Lines.

They’re working on their debut record, TLC001, a compilation featuring Tight Lines’ four leading bands. It’s a record that is certainly the first of many, and one that both demonstrates and reinforces Leeds as a city of great music and DIY culture. This is represented in the album’s beautiful album artwork; illustrated by Mike Winnard of Snake Oil, the design is unequivocally Hyde Park, the birthplace and home of Tight Lines. It’s an album that should be on the shelves of anyone who loves and appreciates Leeds, and one that reflects the continuous hard work (and fun) that the Tight Lines gang consistently does.

If you’d like to help Tight Lines scrape together the funds to press the record, you can kindly donate your spare change to their Indigogo which can be found under the hashtag #TLC001.

In a short amount of time, the Tight Lines boys have become close friends of ours and we wouldn’t back anyone more than them. Not to get mushy, but they’re some of the most dedicated and lovely people we know and truly deserve the best.

Tell all your mates about Tight Lines, and then boogie all together at their next jam.

Meg Firth

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In conversation with...

Meeting with the Dulahli boys before they had eaten made the conversation a beautiful mix of ‘hangry’: straight to the point answers and their usual sarcastic responses. They gave some very indepth points about the wonderful music they create, and some hilarious (mostly useless) comments on their experiences in the band. If Tom Nixon would have waited 20 minutes, once their food had arrived, this interview could have been slightly more professional… and maybe slightly more boring.

TN: So how did you guys start?

Ant: I started in first year. I got some nice feedback from some hip-hop beats I was releasing at the time, so I went a bit more experimental. I used to do Ableton sets a lot and it came to the point where it wasn’t challenging enough. Ableton sets, in my opinion, are easy. Completed it mate.

TN: So then you brought the boys in?

Ant: With the guys, I always knew about them. They used to come to the shows, Will and Ketch. I wanted the challenge of doing live music, so I spoke to Will about it, and Ketch was super keen. It started with Owen from Têtes de Pois on bass, then Fergus replaced him.

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TN: Did getting the guys involved change the sound?

Will: Well, it started as a hip-hop project, then into a post-dubstep project, a bit James Blake-y. Then it went into a poppy soulful vibe, and we’re quite happy with the jazz fusion tip that it’s on now.

TN: So do you write as a group?

Ant: A lot of the tracks have come from production projects. I don’t write in a traditional way and to learn your own music, and see other people learn your music, is an experience that is very overwhelming.

TN: Describe your track on the Tight Lines Compilation.

Fergus: Em, GbMaj, AbMaj, Bbdom, Cm.

Will: It’s a Shabaka track really. It’s very of the new UK jazz fucking thing. Which really, is what a lot of what Dulahli do isn’t, but this track definitely is. Long build up to hype, kind of thing.

Fergus: Two main ideas, stretched over 10 minutes really, haha.

TN: Do you have anything else in the pipeline to be released?

Ant: The main issue we have had is how to record, like conceptually how to go with it. Like do we get a live band, full production, so we do some bits live and some bits not. But we have done it the way I wanted to do it and the result is actually really good. We just haven’t finished it because it’s a long process. Especially with leftfield experimental music, the concept of finishing is a lot harder.

Nice People Magazine December 2018

In conversation with...

As a busy seven-piece, Têtes de Pois are the hardest of the Tight Lines bands to get in one place.

The conversation was, as usual, one with many tangents and many laughs. Of the many topics covered in the interview, Têtes and Tom Nixon eventually talked about the band, what they are up to and what exciting things are coming in the near future.

TN: So, what’s the set up of Têtes?

Owen: Two saxophones, drums, bass, guitar, keys and percussion.

TN: What would you categorise your music as?

Owen: As much as it’s a taboo term among musicians, I’d say fusion.

We just take bits from stuff we like.

Harry: Global Fusion.

George: No, I hate the term Global.

It just reminds me of people on gap years. I’d say Afro-Jazz, we take a lot of inspiration from African music.

Ketch: Our inspirations have just broadened so much, and the sound of the band has then broadened as time has gone on.

Harry: It’s sort of a different inspiration for every member of the band, which, although very confusing, is the most interesting part of writing. Jasmine loves hiphop, George loves Bonobo, I love the more aggressive jazz stuff, Owen loves Dave Holland. There are loads of different things.

TN: Sweet, what have you guys got coming up then?

Everyone: EP! Harry: 1st of February! EP! George: Should be a good gig, we are playing at the Wardrobe.

TN: Sounds great! Any other gigs coming up soon?

Owen: We have just finished a long string of gigs across the county, name a place, we played a gig there. So now is a breather.

TN: So, tell me more about the EP.

Harry: Four tracks, twenty-three minutes, being pressed to record, on that sweet heavyweight.

Owen: It is only four tracks, but I feel it’s a lot more focused.

Ketch [In Australian accent]: It’s got a lot of fucking depth to it.

Harry: It’s deep, your gonna want armbands.

Harry [Laughing]: Yeh, now we’re gonna do a post-indie wave hard bop fusion vaporwave album because we’re sick of this shit.

Ketch: Lo-fi chill hip hop beats to revise and study to.

TN: What does the EP sound like then?

Harry: Have you heard Robbie Williams? It doesn’t sound like that.

It’s really quite different to that.

I think that’s what the tagline of the EP should be, to be honest; ‘It sounds really different to Robbie Williams’.

TN: What’s the EP called?

Owen: Its called Framework.

TN: Tour after that?

Harry: Yeh we are going to do some dates in February following the EP, should be fun!

TN: Any plans for after that?

Illustrations by Julia Pomeroy

21

In conversation with...

Harrie Kelly sits down with the Skwids Being mates with this band makes engaging them in something resembling a serious conversation not easy. This is what makes the Leeds-based four piece such a dream. After many false starts and light discussion on 1001 Photographs You Must See Before You Die, we settled down. So far, nobody has accepted my offer of a cuppa; these boys mean business…

HK: When was the concept of a 4-man aquatic-themed experimental jazz group conceived?

George: I don’t think there was ever a moment of contraception to be fair.

HK: Contraception?

[The room descends into giggles and guffaws once more] George: I don’t think there was ever a moment of conception really, it just kind of formed over time.

Yeah, we didn’t wake up one day and think let’s make an aquatic themed jazz-punk band, but we started playing together in second year of uni, and it just went West from there really…

HK: Do your parents like your music?

George: No… Well my mum likes our music…

MC Donald: Not really… they definitely pretend to like it.

Fergus: My parents are big ol’ fans, they’ve been to many gigs. They’re very supportive.

Will: My parents actively dislike it.

HK: Do you think your children will like your music, if you have any?

George: Not if you use contraception…

Fergus: I need to find someone to sleep with first.

HK: Do you think that you’ll ever regret doing a naked photoshoot for your debut LP cover?

Will: I don’t think my career will ever get serious enough for that to be a problem at all.

Fergus: No. Never.

George: No, I don’t think I will…

Maybe. It depends what happens though. I was so against it. Literally so against it. But I’m really happy we did it now to be fair.

HK: Do you think you’re worth buying a gig ticket for?

MC Donald: It’s a spectacle.

George: Just about… I wouldn’t pay any more than a fiver, but yeah I reckon Skwid Ink are worth going to see.

MC Donald: Yeah, five pounds.

Illustration by Julia Pomeroy

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Nice People Magazine December 2018

In conversation with...

Unlike the Dulahli interview the boys in Garde Dog were all fueled up on coffee and sausage rolls.

Even so, their comments didn’t get any less sarcastic; on Tom Nixon’s voice recording from the interview, their loud eager voices and silly laughter could still be heard over the sound of traffic and sirens shooting past on the Otley Road.

TN: What is the aim of Garde Dog?

TN: Do you use samples at all?

Will: Well, it started aiming to be an instrumental hip-hop band, but it just turned into something beautifully angrier in the end.

Sam: We were all just listening to Dilla beats pretty much.

Ketch: The music just got heavier and a bit rockier, but still big beats, heavy hip-hop stuff.

Sam: I thought about getting some dog noises at some point, get a fat sample pad and record a load of dogs.

TN: What have you guys got down, recording-wise?

Will: Well, technically we have it all down because we went and recorded everything we have ever written. So yeh, we have an album coming out at some point.

Sam: Production is nearly done, just doing some tweaks and stuff.

There’s no strict deadline, so we might as well work on it for a long time; try everything and see what sounds cool.

TN: How long is the album?

Ketch: Six inches.

TN: Is it just you guys on the album?

Will: No, we have had loads of people to come and do their own thing on the top of it - got collaborations flying in left, right and centre to be fair.

Ketch: Like fucking Heathrow mate.

TN: What are you calling the album?

Ketch: Doggin’ Will: Straight Doggin’ Ketch: Doggin’ ‘Ard. TN: Garde Doggy Dogg?

Will: Straight Outta the Kennels.

TN: So what’s the track like on the Tight Lines compilation?

more as backing for the rapper Piko Fabrisse.

Sam: We recorded it at midnight until around 5am, and it sounds a bit like that as well, which I like.

Sounds like we are all weird and frazzled.

Owen: [Piko Fabrisse] wrote the lyrics there and then as well TN: Anything else you guys have been up to?

Sam: We did a live session of the track recently, on my roof terrace, between ten and twelve in the morning. I didn’t ask my neighbours, I thought ‘It won’t be too loud’. We got halfway through the first take and my neighbour who is like fifty, just started plucking apples out of his tree and throwing them up on the roof at us.

Owen: One of them hit me in the foot, so I could do him for assault mate. Put him in the pound.

Will: So I got hit, Owen got his, Sam got hit, to be honest, the man’s got a good aim.

Ketch: It’s more on the chill hiphop side of life; it’s not quite as heavy as the more recent stuff we have been writing. It was written Photo

© Garde

Dog

23

Reduce, Reuse,

junk Jack Ramage sits down with Caleb Elliott from The Rainbow Junktion Cafe, to talk about tackling food wastage and the work that can be done do to reduce the needless amount of food that is thrown away daily.

Food waste: perhaps one of the most wide-reaching problems of our generation. The UK collectively produces around 31 million tonnes of waste per year - the equivalent to the weight of three and a half million double-decker buses that would go around the world two and a half times. It’s about time we get the wheels turning and reach a solution.

Caleb Elliot, the deputy manager of Rainbow Junktion, is here to provide an answer: “Rainbow Junktion is an offshoot from The Real Junk Food Project. We take food that would otherwise go to waste - things past their sell-by date, things that look a bit bruised; if just one item in the packet is bruised it all gets thrown away.” Rainbow Junktion takes this food, that would otherwise be binned, and creates healthy meals every Monday, Thursday and Friday for whoever walks in the door. Everyone is welcome, and the food on offer is pay-asyou-feel so a lack of money isn’t an issue.

This independent pay-as-you-feel cafe runs out of All Hallows Church. It is truly one of Leeds’ most important hidden gems: “It’s right in the heart of the student bubble, but it’s hidden behind a few rows of houses so nobody knows about it.”

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Nice People Magazine December 2018

Despite its rather unknown location, the cafe provides a melting pot for the diverse communities in LS6. “When I first walked through the doors, I didn’t even know the spectrum of the population of Hyde Park. In terms of joining communities, it’s definitely an important place. The work we’re doing together is extremely important.” Despite differences, we can all agree on waste-free grub.

Rainbow Junktion’s dedicated group of volunteers keep the cogs of the cafe and local movement turning. Caleb stated that his own inspiration for getting involved in such a selfless project came down to a life-changing talk, lead by Adam Smith of The Real Junk Food Project. This was the spark that ignited his passion for the waste reduction movement. “Food waste is an awful problem, and I was really inspired by him and how cutthroat and to-the-point he was. By the time I was leaving University, I needed motivation and an aim; so I got super involved in the cafe because it has this great flexibility about it. You can do as much or little as you want.”

Caleb notes that the best part about being involved with the movement is the inspiration it gave him to be carbon neutral – the lifestyle of having zero carbon footprint. It’s “being a part of the solution to the big problems we face, not a perpetrator. We have huge ambitions.” A self-proclaimed ‘big dreamer’, Caleb is an endless fountain of future ideas, bringing solutions to our prolific food waste problem. “I want to make something accessible because inequality is such a big issue. The Rainbow Junktion Cafe is payas-you-feel so it’s as accessible as possible.

But I had the crazy idea of making a cafe where everything was free; there’s so much waste around that can still be consumed. If that was combined with a co-operative way of managing it, and if there was a big group that was involved - so they don’t burn-out that would be the dream.”

Rainbow Junktion is certainly nailing this on the head, collaborating with other local creative outlets to imprint their name firmly on the Hyde Park map. On November 16th, the project worked to create a successful small creative and sustainable festival at Open Source Arts, which promoted local art. Leeds creative forward thinkers are alive and well, and The Rainbow Junktion is a sole representation of this. When it comes to bringing a positive impact to LS6 - through creativity, sustainability and integrating cultures - Rainbow Junktion ticks all the boxes.

Jack Ramage

If you’d like to volunteer at Rainbow Junktion, email Caleb at caleb@rainbowjunktion.org.uk

25

It’s better owt than in...

OWT is a new restaurant in Kirkgate Market inspired by local produce and their neighbours in the market. Naomi Baguley talks to chef and co-owner Esther Miglio ahead of OWT’s opening.

A

s 2018 draws to a close, a year that has generally been regarded as a bin on fire has little to offer in the way of good news. One thing that has grown in prominence this year, however, has been the rising awareness of sustainable living in the UK. Amidst political, economic, and social uncertainty, people have been choosing to re-examine the ways they consume fashion, technology, and even food: the way that we buy our meals and eat them can shape our local communities and the wider world for the better.

Leeds’ local food movement has been gaining traction over the past couple of years, with restaurants such as Eat Your Greens highlighting their use of local and organic vegetables. OWT, the newest restaurant addition to Kirkgate Market, takes the movement one step further by sourcing all of their produce only from within the market itself. “The main idea is to keep the money within the market,” Esther Miglio tells me in the midst of setting up OWT’s new kitchen. “We can get the most amazing fresh fruit and vegetables - as well as meat and fish - from all of our neighbours in the market’.

Esther and her partner James Simpson, both veterans of the Leeds Junk Food Project, created OWT a way to continue bringing local, seasonal and sustainable food to the people of Leeds. They began OWT’s journey with two launch events - at Hyde Park Book Club and The Brunswick - offering up a delicious menu for vegans, veggies, and carnivores alike.

Their permanent stall will be open in Kirkgate Market from the end of November.

The restaurant will be offering up a changing weekly menu - one that is inspired by and reliant upon the other traders within the market. The menus will be inspired directly by the fresh produce offered by OWT’s neighbouring traders; for example, the debut menu was created as a result of a conversation between Esther and an organic butcher: “We got talking to Nigel, who’s an amazing butcher, and he mentioned the beef shin that he had in.” 12-hour slow-cooked beef was added to the menu, and a collaborative relationship was created.

The placement within Kirkgate Market not only means OWT have access to a huge range of amazing independent traders, but also means that shoppers and workers in the city centre can afford to come and enjoy a local lunch; “In France, we have the tradition of stopping work from 12 to half 1 for lunch, and all the shops close so everybody can go to a cantine, where you can easily get a three-course meal for under a tenner,” Esther tells me. OWT is a restaurant that will reflect this French sensibility, not only in affordability, but also in attitude. It was created as a place where people can see exactly where their food comes from, and enjoy the benefits of a close community of traders and chefs.

What came is apparent in OWT’s ethos, as well as its food, is an attitude of unpretentious care and skilled attention to flavour.

Naomi Baguley

Get OWT for lunch at Kirkgate Market: Unit Bs4B, Row 1

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Nice People Magazine December 2018

10 years of:

2

018 marks Pulled Apart By Horses 10 year anniversary as a band. Though not so affably named, the band has become one of Leeds’ most successful alternative acts of recent times. The group have released four albums to date, with a fifth scheduled to come out next year through the record label Caroline International. Each of these studio albums has been a sonic growth from the last, with the band’s discography covering an array of guitar-based genres such as indie, grunge and alternative rock.

The group formed from the ashes of local band Mother Vulpine (which also featured members of Dinosaur Pile Up) and although they’ve come a long way since their early days of playing and rehearsing at The Packhorse Pub, it seems only right to reflect on their post-hardcore, art-rocky roots. Let’s take a look back at their self-titled debut which took the local lads from the pubs of Leeds to the stages of Glastonbury and airwaves of Radio 1.

Pulled Apart By Horses kicks off with ‘Back To The Fuck Yeah’, an unrelenting and energetic opener which encapsulates perfectly what the record is about: jaunting distorted guitar riffs, yelled but catchy vocals and hooks galore. Although some fans argue that this first record was a little one-dimensional, it’s hard to argue that it wasn’t their most unique in terms of creating an original sound. Track two, ‘The Crapsons’, kicks off a catchy math-rocky guitar hook with a beat that could have you dancing and moshing simultaneously, before we get to the bands now iconic ‘High Five, Swan Dive, Nose Dive’.

Tom Baran looks back at Pulled Apart By Horses’ seminal album in a tribute to the local legends’ mark on rock music.

A track the band still play at every gig - with it often being last in their set - the track breaks down and builds right back up again brilliantly with a crushing ending that inevitably gets you moving. Despite simply reiterating similar versions of the same riff, the tune stays thoroughly engaging throughout and marks the start of a trio of fan-favourites as we smash head-first in to ‘Yeah Buddy’. This is a track that references a distaste for tough guys with muscles and a desire to fight them. ‘I Punched A Lion In The Throat’ is up next, the track centres around a heavy stoner rock like riff and is undoubtedly a highlight of not just their record but discography. With tracks as strangely named as the band themselves, the rest of the album flies by in a similar fashion with tunes such as ‘I’ve Got Guest-List To Rory O’Hara’s Suicide’ and ‘Meat Balloon’. The album reaches its climax on the 7-minute sludgy stoner-rock marathon, ‘Den Horn’. The song descends into a heavy riff about one minute in, which the band then cycles with for a good 5 minutes, allowing for a lot of naughty live antics.

Overall, this is a standout debut from one of Leeds’ standout bands. The record still holds its own to this day, and has made a permanent mark in the Leeds music scene.

Tom Baran

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Lovers of the gutters Words by Alex D-t Illustration by Millie Farrant

If love had a face It would be yours at 6am While I dream awake In your natural haze Lost in the waves Of your messy hair If love had a shape It would be your curves That drip off my wet dreams Devote my belief, And fixate me From first breath to last words Speaking of astral worlds If love had a voice It would sit upon your tongue And call to beneath the covers Into the gutters of the lover’s You whispering true words Love’s heavenly verse “Perfect is the world In Beauty when it hurts In physical burn And abstract worlds Perfect is the world In beauty when it hurts Perfect is the world In so many words “

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The sun god Words and Illustration by Ozzy Algar

God above all drawn in the corner of the page Like how a child draws the sun All he needs is a hat and some shades Some SPF 50 God of UVA and UVB protection Throwing shade with the best o-them I am the anti-cancer God! The tanning-salon-truant Sunbathing in -2 with my long-johns on My sunlight is internal My vitamin D mixes with stomach bile to provide you all with your life juice Drink the warming acid and sustain yourselves Cried the God of Ambre Solaire, St Tropez and Primark tanning mitts Extending his neck in a lazy stretch His beams shimmer as he shakes off the weight of his day Your summer Zero degrees still let me graduate And bless burn lines onto your cheeks Still, when the rains come and you’re shut up in windows Can I give this to you Remember, you really should wear at least factor 15 Even when it’s overcast

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3 SHEAF ST, LEEDS, LS10 1HD

27-29 Headingley Lane · LS6 1BL Leeds

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